Badungar re-elected SGPC chiefWins by 23 votesMann group abstainsVotes of 12 debarred members not countedAmritsar, November 12
True to expectations, Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar and other SAD nominees won hands down in the SGPC elections held in the presence of two observers of the state government here today.

SGPC wants ‘tankhah’ for CaptAmritsar, November 12
Apart from seeking the resignation of the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, the general house meeting of the SGPC today urged Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti to pronounce “exemplary tankhah” (religious punishment) as per Sikh maryada so that no Chief Minister could dare to send the police into the “darbar sahib” complex in future, which had hurt the sentiments of Sikhs.

CM on Golden Temple complex and
SGPC pollChandigarh, November 12
The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, today faxed the following signed statement giving his views on “what constitutes the Golden Temple complex” and on the conduct of SGPC presidential elections in Amritsar today.

NEWS ANALYSISThis
‘win-win’ game at Golden Temple complexChandigarh, November 12
In common parlance called the ‘mini-Parliament’, the SGPC, has over
the years become a symbol of supremacy and power in Sikh affairs. It is
this fact which has resulted in factional fights among the Akalis with
the ruling establishment, whether of the Congress or the ruling faction
of the Akalis.

PM
clears Sikh jathaNew Delhi, November 12
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee gave the green signal here tonight
for a token jatha of 50 persons to visit Nankana Sahib in Pakistan to
take part in the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev on
November 19.

Tension
grips GujaratAhmedabad, November 12
Tension prevailed in parts of Gujarat today after yesterday’s violence
at three places in which the toll rose to six overnight.Tight
security arrangements were in place at Rajkot in view of the third
one-day international cricket match between the West Indies and India.

Police
patroling near burnt shop in Madhu village of Kehada district in Ahmedabad
on Monday where 12 shops were burnt and 2 peoplesreported killed during violence. — PTI photo

No
more questioning of rape victimsNew Delhi, November 12
In a far-reaching decision providing respite to a rape victim, the
Centre today approved an amendment that would prevent the
cross-examination of a woman on her moral character in a rape case. “The unrestrained questioning of the prosecutrix can destruct the reputation and self-respect of the woman and intensify her trauma. It has been decided to amend the Indian Evidence Act by removing this provision,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj told newspersons.